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According to a new study by the Food Packaging Forum, 175 chemicals with known hazardous properties are legally used in the production of food contact packaging in Europe and the U.S.

Food packaging and other materials coming in contact with food (e.g. foils, cans, pans, storage containers) continuously release mixtures of synthetic substances into food at low levels, which are then ingested by the consumer on a daily basis.

Many of the 175 substances identified are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic. Others are considered to interfere with the hormone system, the so-called endocrine disruptors. A third group of chemicals is considered persistent and bioaccumulative.

The study, “Food contact substances and chemicals of concern: A comparison of inventories,” was published July 7 in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Food Additives and Contaminants, Part A.

Among the 175 chemicals of concern are substances causing cancer or inflicting changes on the genes. Others affect an organism’s ability to reproduce, or they act as endocrine disruptors interfering with hormone signaling. In addition, the list contains toxic chemicals that accumulate in the environment or the human body.

Phthalates, which are widely used as plasticizers, are one prominent example for endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may lead to male infertility, genital malformations and cancer. Benzophenones and organotin compounds add to the list of endocrine-disrupting chemicals used in printing inks and coatings of food contact materials.

“From a consumer perspective, it is certainly undesirable and also unexpected to find chemicals of concern being intentionally used in food contact materials,” the study’s authors stated.

The majority of the 175 chemicals of concern identified in the new study fulfill the criteria of “Substances of Very High Concern” (SVHC) based on the EU chemical regulation REACH. Although only 21 of the 175 chemicals have been officially recognized as SVHC by the European Chemicals Agency, a total of 96 chemicals were identified as fulfilling the official REACH criteria for SVHC by the non-governmental organization ChemSec; they are listed on the Substitute It Now! (SIN) list.

SVHCs are supposed to be properly controlled and progressively replaced by less-hazardous alternatives under REACH. This includes a two-step regulatory process aiming at the phase-out of SVHCs. Nevertheless, chemicals used in the manufacture of food contact materials are not directly affected by this phase-out because they are regulated separately.

“As a consequence, chemicals with highly toxic properties may legally be used in the production of food contact materials, but not in other consumer products such as computers, textiles and paints even though exposure through food contact materials may be far more relevant,” according to the authors of the study.

What is wrong with these manufacturers?
Heaven help us all……..especially the babies.

sue cordes

They are trying to kill us, haven’t you figured that out yet? They want to reduce the population…get ready for it to get worse and worse. Look out for the Chem-trails, they are spraying Aluminum and bromine in the air we have to breathe…:(

This is a highly misleading and poorly informed article aiming to cause fear by cherry picking facts and misrepresenting the truth. All chemicals can be harmful (including water – see webpages on the dangers of one of the mose deadly substances on earth, dihydrogen monoxide). Many known carcinogens, reproductive toxins and endocrine disruptors are entirely safe at the kind of minimal levels they can be found in food packaging materials. There are many “toxic” substances in “all natural” foods we eat every day; bananas are radioactive, apple seeds contain cyanide, etc. The important thing to realize is that the dose makes the poison.
This is why we have the FDA. They are experts who study how foods, contaminants, additives and packaging affect our food based on real scientific studies done by trained toxicologists. Substances used in the manufacture of food packaging, which are FDA approved, are not something to waste your time worrying about. Spend more time educating the public, instead of creating fear mongering articles like this.

sue cordes

The FDA is another Gov. joke!!!!

sue cordes

Ya, I know all of this, so what can we do about it??? Yes, the gov. is trying it’s best to kill us off. All of this plus the crap in our water, the chemical chem-trails, chemicals on our crops and fed to the livestock we buy for meat. Then we get sick and they throw pills at us that do not cure us, they just cover up the sickness, only to give us other problems…And on and on it goes….We really are between a rock and a hard place. Even come quickly Lord Jesus~!!!!

Guest

To what end is the government trying to kill us? What do THEY get out of it? So, we (who is WE) all die, then what?
SMH

Arturo Velez

THEY’RE MAKING US SICK TO SELL US MEDICINES THAT WON’T CURE US! THIS WAY, THEY GET TO MAKE MORE MONEY!